Man charged with attempted murder in Millville shooting

MILLVILLE – Police arrested a man over the weekend in connection with a shooting on Whitall Avenue in late December, police said Monday.

Edward Armstead III, 23, of North High Street was charged Saturday with attempted murder and weapons charges related to the shooting. Police said he also had a warrant for an alleged aggravated assault that occurred three days before the shooting.

Armstead allegedly shot 42-year-old Doug Watford once in the abdomen outside of the victim’s home on Dec. 29. Police said there was a confrontation inside the home on the 100 block of Whitall Avenue before it continued outside around 2:18 a.m., when Watford was shot.

On Dec. 26, an assault victim came to police headquarters telling authorities he had been in a fight with Armstead. The man suffered a busted lip and was grasping the right side of his head saying he was in pain, police said. A warrant for Armstead for aggravated assault and terroristic threat charges was also issued for that incident, Farabella said.

Police spotted Armstead behind a home on the 700 block of North 3rd Street Saturday and kept him under surveillance until he tried to leave the area, police said.

Detective Lt. Jody Farabella said officers immediately recognized him and knew he was wanted in connection with the shooting.

Armstead eventually moved from behind the home and got into a car out front, according to police reports. Officers then moved in to conduct a motor vehicle stop on 2nd and E streets, where they arrested the suspect around 11:33 a.m. Saturday.